Testing & Certification

This page describes the different types of testing and certifications required for both children's and non-children's consumer products.

Federal law requires manufacturers and importers to test many consumer products for compliance with consumer product safety requirements. Based on passing test results, the manufacturer or importer must certify the consumer product as compliant with the applicable consumer product safety requirements in a written or electronic certificate. Certificates are required to accompany the applicable product or shipment of products covered by the certificate, and a copy must be provided to retailers, distributors and, upon request, to the government.

Below are descriptions of types of testing and certificates. Note that requirements for children’s products are different from those for non-children’s products.

Third Party Testing for Children’s Products

Federal law requires that every children's product subject to a federal consumer product safety requirement be tested by a CPSC-accepted laboratory for compliance with the applicable federal children's product safety requirements.

Testing for Non-Children’s Products

Federal law requires that certain non-children's, or general use, products, subject to a federal consumer product safety requirement be certified based on a test of each product or a reasonable testing program for compliance with applicable consumer product safety requirements.

CPSC-Accepted Laboratories

A manufacturer or importer of a children’s product must use a third party, CPSC-accepted laboratory to test its product for compliance with the applicable federal children's product safety requirements.

Tracking Labels

All children’s products and their packaging must bear permanent tracking information, if this can be done. Durable infant or toddler products also must be marked with specialized tracking information and must have a postage-paid customer registration card attached. This information will be used f the product is recalled.

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